The European Producers Club (EPC) has launched a campaign calling for greater recognition and inclusion of independent producers at film festival
The European Producers Club (EPC) has launched a campaign calling for greater recognition and inclusion of independent producers at film festivals and by academies.
The influential EPC states that independent producers play an “indispensable role” in the creation, financing, and delivery of films presented at international festivals, but that many of its members do not receive the appropriate recognition. The EPC represents 200 leading independent film and TV producers from across Europe.
As part of the campaign, the EPC has outlined a series of recommendations to enhance the visibility, hospitality and recognition of producers at film festivals worldwide.
This includes mentioning lead producers in official festival materials, alongside directors, writers and main cast members.
It also wants festivals to extend official invitations to key producers, rather than relying on intermediaries such as distributors, and to offer support for accommodation and travel for officially selected films.
Independent producers should also receive stronger recognition in ceremonies and be invited on stage with the team to recognise their contribution, says the EPC. When introducing films, festivals should also ensure producers’ names are mentioned.
The organisation also calls on festivals to ask experienced producers to serve on juries, recognising them as “creative professionals and decision-makers with a deep understanding of cinema.”
It argues “in an industry marked by the growing concentration of finance and decision-making power, championing the role of the original, or lead, producer is about safeguarding our ecosystem diversity, fuelling its innovation, and ensuring its cultural relevance for the future”.
The EPC has started approaching festivals and academies with its recommendations, including Cannes, Venice, Berlin, Toronto and the European Film Academy, asking what recognition they already provide to producers, what more can be done and what obstacles remain. It will then monitor progress.
“Film festivals and academies are essential platforms for European films,” said Julie-Jeanne Regnault, managing director of EPC. “Over the past years, the EPC has gathered feedback from its members on how to better highlight the crucial role of producers. This has led to a set of recommendations aimed at ensuring greater visibility in communications, invitations, and proper acknowledgment.
“With this toolbox, we offer a compass for engaging with festivals, identifying best practices, and driving meaningful improvements so that independent producers are truly recognised as the creative leaders they are. From our perspective, this is crucial to promote the diversity, innovation, and cultural richness that define cinema.”
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